The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
CONSTITUTION / UNITED STATES / GENERAL
I do then, with sincere zeal, wish an inviolable preservation of our
present federal Constitution, according to the true sense in which it
was adopted by the States, that in which it was advocated by its
friends, and not that which Its enemies apprehended, who therefore
became its enemies. . . . I am for freedom of religion, and against
all manoeuvres to bring about a legal ascendancy of one sect over
another: for freedom of the press, and against all violations of the
Constitution to silence by force and not by reason the complaints or
criticisms, just or unjust, of our citizens against the conduct of
their agents. And I am for encouraging the progress of science in all
its branches; and not for raising a hue and cry against the sacred
name of philosophy; for awing the human mind by stories of raw-head
and bloody bones to a distrust of its own vision, and to repose
implicitly on that of others; to go backwards instead of forwards to
look for improvement; to believe that government, religion, morality,
and every other science were in the highest perfection in ages of the
darkest ignorance, and that nothing can ever be devised more perfect
than what was established by our forefathers. To these I will add,
that I was a sincere well-wisher to the success of the French
revolution, and still wish it may end in the establishment of a free
and well-ordered republic; but I have not been insensible under the
atrocious depredations they have committed on our commerce. The first
object of my heart is my own country. In that is embarked my family,
my fortune, and my own existence. I have not one farthing of interest,
nor one fibre of attachment out of it, nor a single motive of
preference of any one nation to another, but in proportion as they are
more or less friendly to us. But though deeply feeling the injuries of
France, I did not think war the surest means of redressing them. I did
believe, that a mission sincerely disposed to preserve peace, would
obtain for us a peaceable and honorable settlement and retribution;
and I appeal to you to say, whether this might not have been obtained,
if either of your colleagues had been of the same sentiment with
yourself.
These, my friend, are my principles; they are unquestionably the
principles of the great body of our fellow-citizens, and I know there
is not one of them which is not yours also. . . . And did we ever
expect to see the day, when, breathing nothing but sentiments of love
to our country and its freedom and happiness, our correspondence must
be as secret as if we were hatching its destruction!
to Elbridge Gerry, 26 January 1799
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